Paving-block cutter



Maich 31. 1925.

Q. CARLSON 21mm BLOCK crm'sa Filed ipril 18, 1923 Patented Mar. 31,1925.

FATNT i.

OSCAR CARLSON, OF TAMPA, FLORIDA.

PAVING-BLOCK CUTTER.

Application filed April 18, 1923.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Oscar. GARLSON, a citizen of the United States,residing at Tampa, in the county of Hillsborough and State of Florida,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in a Paving-BlockCutter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in a machine of apparatusdesigned for use in the construction of streets, roads, and sidewalks,and has particular relation to an apparatus employed for cutting ortrimming the paving blocks therefor, and especially, such blocks as areknown to the trade as asphalt blocks, usually composed of a compositionwith asphalt forming a part thereof.

These blocks are each, generally, about one foot long, five inches wide,and two and one-half inches thick, and in such sizes or dimensions aredelivered to the paving contractor or road-builder for laying. In theconstruction of the roadways in which such blocks are employed, aspaving therefor, and particularly in the construction of streets andsidewalks, it is necessary, in joining the main body of the pavement tothe curbs, to cut down the sizes of some of the blocks, or to trim themso that they will fit or fill in the spaces properly between the body ofthe pavement and the curbs, as well as, at corners or angles of theroadway. On account of the tenacity of the material and othercharacteristics of the blocks, the cutting down of the size thereof, ortrimming the same, has heretofore required much time and labor, usuallyof two men for cutting each block. Besides, the means and methodsheretofore commonly employed for cutting or trimming the blocks, havebeen found unsatisfactory, in that the blocks could not be accuratelycut or shaped to fit the desired spaces without the expenditure of muchtime and labor, and often without several efforts.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a cutter for pavingblocks and the like, which shall be simple and inexpensive inconstruction, strong, durable and efficient in operation, with its partsso made, arranged, and cooperating with one another, that the operationof cutting the blocks can be readily and accurately performed by oneperson.

Other objects and advantages of the in- Serial N0. 632,878.

vention will become apparent from the following description andexplanation, which will be more readily understood, when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawing, which illustrates oneembodiment of the invention, it being understood that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention so long as they come within the scope of the appendedclaims forming a part hereof.

In the drawing,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a paving-block cutter embodyingthe invention, showing the parts thereof in about the positions theywill assume or occupy in the initial step of cutting a block.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the hand lever of the device shortenedfor the convenience of illustration, and Fig. 3 is a front end viewshowing the parts in about the positions illustrated in Fig. 1.

Like numerals of reference refer to like parts throughout the differentviews of the drawings.

The reference numeral 5 designates as a whole the main or supportingframe of the apparatus, which is preferably triangular in shape asshown, and may be made of any suitable size and material. This frame isprovided at each of its corners with a caster or wheel 6 to enable theframe to be readily removed from one point to another and to support itin a steady manner.

Mounted on the upper surface of the cross-piece 7 at the rear end of theframe 5, is a pair of spaced uprights 8 between which is movably mountedthe knife-carrying lever 9 of the apparatus. This lever has at or nearits rear end a transversely disposed bolt 10 which is employed topivotally connect the lever 9 to pair of links 11 one of which islocated on each side of the lever 9 as is clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2of the drawings. The lower portion of each of the links 11 is providedwith a plurality of openings 12 located one above the other for thepurpose of permitting of adjustment of the lever 9 with respect to thehand or operating lever 13 of the apparatus. This hand or operatinglever is located between the uprights 8 near their upper ends andfulcrumed thereon by means of a bolt or pin 14. The rear portion of thelever 13 is extended between the upper portion of the links 11 and ispivotally connected thereto by means of a bolt or pin 15 transverselymounted on the lever 13 in a suitable bearing therefor. The upp rportion of each of the uprights 8 is provided with an opening 16, whichopenings register with one another for the reception of the fulcrum 14,should it be desired to raise the fulcrum of the lever 13 or to adjustit with respect to the knife-carrying lever 9 which may be desirableunder certain circuinstances. The knife-carrying lever i) is fulcrumednear its front end on an upright fulcrum member 1? which is preferablyof an inverted U-shaped form and has its lower portions screw-threadedand extended through vertical openings in the side pieces of the frame 5near the front ends of said pieces. The upper portion of this fulcrmember 17 is horizontally disposed as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 and saidportion is journaled in a suitable bearing 18 secured to the lowersurface of the lever 9 near its front end. The front end of this leveris provided in its lower portion with a right angled recess 19 and hasmounted on the upper wall of said recess a depending cutter or knife 20which is transversely disposed with respect to the lever 9 and issecured to said lever by means of a pair of angle iron clamping plates21 which are secured at their bases to the lever 9, the knife or cutter20 being interposed between said clamps, as is obvious and also clearlyshown in Figs. 1 and 3 of the drawings.

Mounted on the front portion of the supporting frame 5 and extendedupwardly therefrom is a support 22 for the lower cutter or knife 23 ofthe apparatus. whicn latter knife is extended transversely with respectto the support 22 and uowardly therefrom at a suitable point toco-incide with the knife 20 when the front end of the lever 9 isdepressed by applying downward pressure to the front end of theoperating lever or handle. The knife 28 is clamped between and securedto the support 22 by means of angle iron members 2% transversely securedon the upper surface of the support 22 which is shown in the form ofarectangular block. In front of the support or block 22 and mounted onthe upper surface of the frame 5 is another supporting block 25 which asis clearly shown in Fig. 1 extends somewhat above the support- 22. Thislast named supporting block 25 has secured to its front surface a plate26 which is extended rcarwardly over the upper end of the block 25 to apoint near the knife 23 to form a rest 27 for the paving locks as theyare being positioned for the cutting operation. This overlying rest orportion 27 of the plate 28 is resilient and normally occupies a positionabout like ti at shown in F 1 so that a paving block can be mounted onthe rest 2? without contacting with the knife 23 until said paving blockiterate is suitably adjusted on said rest. Vertically and pivotallysecured one of its ends to the supporting block 25 is a guide member 0which overlies the supporting block 25 t its upper end and also overliesthe rest it for the paving blocks. This guide member is provided with atransversely disposed slot 29 to receive a set screw 30 seated in theplate 26, by which arrangement it is manifest that the guide member 28can be adjusted laterally with respect to the rest 27 so that the pavingblocks can be properly positioned for the cutting operatie-n of theapparatus.

From the foregoing and by reference to the drawing, it will be readilyunderstood and clearly seen that as the hand or oper ating lever 13extends at its front end to about the front end of the main frame, thesaid lever can be manipulated by the same person who applies the pavingblocks to the rest 27 to be cut or trimmed. The operation of cutting theblocks is as follows:

A block is placed on the rest 27 and positioned thereon so that thedesired amount of the block to be cut away will be determined by theposition of the knives 20 and with respect to the paving block, when byapplying downward pressure to the front end of the operating lever 13,it is manifest that the knife-carrying lever 9 will be depressed at itsfront end, thereby causing the knives 20 and 23 to make incisions onopposite surfaces of the paving block and in alignment with each otherso that if the block is not entirely severed by the knives, tie unitingportion thereof can be readily broken. The fulcrum member 17 is adjustably mounted on the supporting frame 5 by means of the screw-threadedlower portions of said member and nuts 31 and 32 which engage saidmembers below and above the supporting frame respectively.

By my improvements it is apparent that as the hand lever is fulcrumednear its rear end and the knife carrying lever is fulcruined near itsfront end, and as these lovers are pivotally or loosely connected neartheir rear ends, great leverage will be afforded the knife or cutter 20on the front end of the knife carrying lever, to the end that pavingblocks may be cut or trimmed wi h a. slight expenditure of pressure orpower applied downwardly to the front end of the hand lever. It isfurther manifest that the fulcrum member 1'? can be so adjusted on thesupporting frame as to posi tion the knives or cutters of the devicecloser together or further apart as may be required. It is also manifestthat by provid- 11 with he openings 12, and 8 with the openings 10, thebe adjusted with re my invention, What I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is An apparatus of the class described including in combination with a main frame, an upright support mountedthereon near one of its ends, a cutter mounted on said supporttransversely with respect to said frame, a spring plate mounted on saidsup port and extended in the direction of said 10 cutter but normallyabove the horizontal plane of its free edge, a guide member adjustablymounted on the said support and overhanging the upper end thereof asWell as a portion of said plate, another cutter transversely disposedwith respect to the main frame above the first named cutter and movablymounted to coincide therewith, and means to raise and lower the lastnamed cutter.

OSCAR CARLSON.

